Group: Unlikely to get involved in Arkansas AG raceLITTLE ROCK — A conservative group that accused Leslie Rutledge of being soft on gun rights during her successful bid for Arkansas attorney general two years ago praised the Republican on Tuesday and said it didn't expect to get involved in her just-launched 2018 re-election campaign. Carrie Severino, the chief counsel and policy director for the Judicial Crisis Network, said she didn't expect the group will need to get involved in Rutledge's ...

Prosecutors: Indicted former judge tried to bribe witnessesLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A former Arkansas judge accused of giving lighter sentences to defendants in exchange for nude photos and sexual acts tried to bribe witnesses and had an accomplice threaten to make one of them "disappear," federal prosecutors say. Joseph Boeckmann appeared disheveled as the accusations were levied during his arraignment hearing Monday in U.S. District Court in Little Rock. Wearing jeans and a button-down shirt while s...

Destructive emerald ash borer detected in northeast OklahomaOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — State forestry officials say they plan to restrict the movement of ash wood in part of northeastern Oklahoma following the discovery of a destructive beetle that has destroyed tens of millions of ash trees across the nation. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry says the emerald ash borer has been discovered in Delaware County. The insect is a non-native, wood-boring beetle and represents a significant ...

Weather prompts delay of Arkansas River bridge implosionNORTH LITTLE ROCK — Workers are postponing Friday's planned implosion of the remaining arches of the Broadway Bridge because of lightning in the area. The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department had planned to implode the three remaining arches of the bridge connecting downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock on Friday, but the weather is prompting a postponement until Saturday morning. Crews are working under a 180-day deadline...

David Pryor's condition improving after stroke, family saysFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Family members say former Arkansas governor and U.S. Sen. David Pryor's condition is improving after he suffered a stroke earlier this week. Pryor's son, former U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, says his father is "conscious and speaking" following surgery for the stroke earlier this week. Mark Pryor told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/2epaCJd ) that his father is "very strong" and that the family appreciates the we...

Union County school district receives enrollment waiverSTRONG, Ark. (AP) — A school district in Union County has become the first school district in Arkansas to receive a waiver from a state law requiring a minimum enrollment of 350 students. The Arkansas Board of Education voted unanimously on Thursday to give the 311-student Strong-Huttig School District the waiver, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/2dBqCTz ). Strong-Huttig superintendent Jeff Alphin requested the waiver,...

Arkansas justices toss liability limits from November ballotLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas' Supreme Court said Thursday that voters won't be able to consider a measure that would limit the amount of money awarded in medical liability cases because the language on the November ballot doesn't fully describe what the proposal would do. Ballots have already been printed, so the court ruled in a pair of orders that no votes be counted on the proposal. Under the plan's provisions, legislators would have b...

FAA: Arkansas event followed rules in airplane turkey dropYELLVILLE — Federal Aviation Administration investigators said a festival in northwestern Arkansas did not break any rules when it tossed live turkeys from an airplane. The annual Turkey Trot festival was held last weekend in Yellville, which is about 90 miles north of Little Rock. One turkey died Friday and another died Saturday upon hitting the ground, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/2d9uRtn ) reported. Most of the turkeys dropp...

Arkansas River reopens in Little Rock as crews remove debrisLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas River in Little Rock has reopened after crews removed debris from the Broadway Bridge from the waterway. Crews used explosives to implode one of the bridge's arches on Tuesday as part of the project to build a new span crossing the river between downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department spokesman Danny Straessle told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http...

Mulberry man arrested in connection with fatal home fireMULBERRY, Ark. (AP) — A 37-year-old Mulberry man has been arrested on a first-degree murder warrant in connection with a mobile home fire in which a man was found dead. Crawford County Sheriff Ron Brown told reporters the man was arrested Wednesday after surrendering to authorities. Court records do not show that the man has been formally charged. Authorities say the man was wanted in connection with the death of a man who was found early Mond...

Mumps cases increase to nearly 500 in northwest ArkansasSPRINGDALE — The Arkansas Department of Health says nearly 500 cases of mumps have been reported in northwest Arkansas, and the number is continuing to grow. The department says 492 people have confirmed or suspected cases of the virus. State Epidemiologist Dr. Dirk Haselow says the disease is being spread among children at schools, and the state is "very concerned" by the growing number of new cases. The state says cases have been reported in...

Faulkner County clerk pleads guilty to misdemeanor chargeCONWAY — The Faulkner County clerk has pleaded guilty to obstructing governmental operations and agreed to resign — but she's still running for the position next month. Margaret Darter pleaded guilty Tuesday to the misdemeanor charge, and she immediately resigned her position as part of her negotiated plea. Darter was charged in October 2015 after a prosecutor asked Arkansas State Police to conduct a criminal investigation into the date electe...

Advocacy groups opposing Arkansas medical marijuana measuresLITTLE ROCK— Two children's advocacy groups are opposing efforts to legalize medical marijuana in Arkansas, saying they believe it poses a potential threat to kids' health and safety in the state. Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families and the Arkansas chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics on Wednesday said in a joint statement that they are opposing the competing ballot measures that would legalize the drug for patients with cer...

Paperwork issue invalidates Pine Bluff mayor's vetoPINE BLUFF — Pine Bluff's city attorney says a mayoral veto of an ordinance requiring city department heads to live within city limits is invalid, which means the measure will take effect Jan. 1. Mayor Debe Hollingsworth vetoed the ordinance last month. But City Attorney Althea Hadden-Scott said Tuesday that the mayor did not include a written statement to aldermen explaining her decision, which means the veto did not take effect. Hollingswort...

Police say man shot in Blytheville dies at hospitalBLYTHEVILLE — Police say a man who was shot in Blytheville died after being taken to a hospital. Capt. Scott Adams told reporters that 33-year-old Michael Angelo Scott was shot about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday and taken in a personal vehicle to a hospital where he later died. Adams said the body is being sent to the state medical examiner's office for an autopsy to determine the official cause of death. No arrests have been announced.

Panel eyes sites for Ten Commandments and Satan monumentsLITTLE ROCK — A subcommittee is looking at two potential sites for monuments to the Ten Commandments and Satan that have been proposed near the Arkansas Capitol, but is asking supporters of the statues to provide more information about the projects and their installation. The subcommittee of the Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission on Wednesday set meetings to review details about the proposed monuments. The panel set a Nov. 16 meeting to revie...

Garland County to allow its employees to carry concealed gunsHOT SPRINGS — The Garland County Quorum Court has voted in favor of allowing county employees with concealed carry permits to bring firearms to work. The Quorum Court repeatedly deflected motions to give the plan more consideration before voting 9-3 in favor of it Monday night, according to the Sentinel-Record (http://bit.ly/2dMF28J). Justices of the Peace Denise Marion, Dave Reagan and Ellen Varhalla voted against the ordinance. Arkansas coun...

Arkansas Senate hopefuls spar over Trump, Clinton commentsCONWAY— Democratic Senate hopeful Conner Eldridge criticized Republican Sen. John Boozman during a debate Wednesday for supporting Donald Trump, saying the billionaire shouldn't have access to the nation's nuclear codes. Eldridge said Boozman should join other Republicans who have withdrawn their endorsement of Trump following the release of a 2005 tape in which the future Republican presidential nominee brags about kissing and groping women w...

Police: 4 killed, 3 hurt in head-on crash in Arkansas OzarksBERRYVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas State Police say four people were killed and three others injured in a head-on collision in northern Arkansas. State police say the wreck happened Sunday afternoon on U.S. 62 east of Berryville in Carroll County. According to a preliminary report, a vehicle driven by 36-year-old Benita Langinbelik crossed the center line and crashed into a vehicle driven by 70-year-old Jack Rogers. State police say both drivers...

2 killed, Arkansas trooper hurt in Hot Springs car crashHOT SPRINGS — Authorities say two people were killed and an Arkansas State Police trooper was seriously injured in a car crash in Hot Springs. Hot Springs Police say the collision happened Monday night on Airport Road. Police say a car carrying two people collided with a state trooper's vehicle, killing the two people in the car. The trooper, whose name hasn't been released yet, was taken to a Hot Springs hospital. Authorities have not yet rel...